I'm thinking of taking a course with Colgate's Offshore Sailing School, most likely their fast track to cruising course. Anyone have any input/experience with this school? I've been power boating all my life and am not worried about that aspect, i've just never sailed before. Any suggestions and or input is appreciated.

The principle is pretty much the same.
you just have to be aware of where the winds are coming from (which is really not that hard) and put the sails in the right position.
I am assuming you will be using a newer sail boat, which makes it really, really, really easy. (power everything)
otherwise, you need a little bit of upper body strength for it to pull the sails back and forth.
the bigger the sail boat is, the more annoying it is to run back and forth between sails depending on how much wind there is and if it is varying or not

A guy I used to work with in NY had a 35ft sailboat, but could never use it because he needed a fucking crew to run it.

He was always trying to bribe people to go out with him so he'd have help on the deck.

Wow can't sail his own boat? 35 footer is not that big for one or two people who know what they're doing to handle. I've got a buddy that spend most of his time bwtween San Diego and Cabo on his 80 foot boat ususally sailing by himself. Yes sail and masts etc are power but we've done that trip with both of us and our girls no problems.

I have... plenty of times. I've lived on both coasts and now live just a few miles from Lake Michigan, so it's not like I haven't been around water and boating. I just don't know what causes such a visceral reaction in people that they must own a boat. I mean, to an extent I get it... I like cars and it's hard for me to explain a passion to other people, but boats I just can't wrap my head around for some reason.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobble

Wow can't sail his own boat? 35 footer is not that big for one or two people who know what they're doing to handle. I've got a buddy that spend most of his time bwtween San Diego and Cabo on his 80 foot boat ususally sailing by himself. Yes sail and masts etc are power but we've done that trip with both of us and our girls no problems.

Eh.. he was an east coast blue-blood in every sense of the label. Probably bought it because he was supposed to, not because he wanted it.

I have... plenty of times. I've lived on both coasts and now live just a few miles from Lake Michigan, so it's not like I haven't been around water and boating. I just don't know what causes such a visceral reaction in people that they must own a boat. I mean, to an extent I get it... I like cars and it's hard for me to explain a passion to other people, but boats I just can't wrap my head around for some reason.

I can understand certain areas sucking ass for sailing/boating.
I enjoy it only in the mediterranean for example.. and specific places.. I enjoy certain parts of the Turkish coast, I didn't enjoy the greek islands (sailing it that is) or going to Egypt (again, only the sailing part). I find the area affects it a lot.. Cyprus is one of my favorite places to sail
I hate hate hate sailing in Lebanon.
Perhaps you just haven't been exposed to a nice sailing spot!

I love sailing. Parents have an Island Packet 35. It's very stable with it being a full keel, but it needs 10-15 knots of wind to get it going.

I have sailed sun fish as well. Those small little things are fun to sail around. Went down to the Key West and went to camp that had them. Those things can fly. Though on the Key West trip it sucked getting back to the boat due to the boat being up wind so I had to zig zag back to the boat.